US3310914A

US3310914A - Shower enclosures

Info

Publication number: US3310914A
Application number: US424010A
Authority: US
Inventors: Klavon William F De
Original assignee: NASH ALUMINUM PRODUCTS CO Inc
Current assignee: NASH ALUMINUM PRODUCTS CO Inc
Priority date: 1965-01-07
Filing date: 1965-01-07
Publication date: 1967-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-03-28

Description

March 28, 1967 w. F. DE KLAvoN SHOWER ENCLOSURES Z5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 7, 1965 INVENTOR ATTORNEY;

F'zy: 3.

March 28, 1967 w. F. DE KLAvoN SHOWER ENCLOSURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1965 ATTORNEY? March 28, 1967 w. F. DE KLAvoN 3,310,914

SHOWER ENCLOSURES Filed Jan. 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

O5 su LR,

INVENTOR VV/LL/AM E' OEA/AVON ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M 3,310,914 SHOWER ENCLSURES William F. De Klavon, Miami, Fla., assignor to Nash Aluminum Products Co., Inc., Hialeah, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Jan. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 424,010 3 Claims. (Cl. 49-408) This invention relates to improvements in shower er1- closures.

Conventional sliding door types of enclosures for shower baths include gutters or elongated grooves on the sill for slidably receiving the sliding doors. Such gutters provide a means for the accumulation of dirt, fungus, germs and standing water. In some cases the uprights of the doors and the jambs are further complicated by interitting parts which are difficult to clean, It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a shower door assembly which includes a frame structure having gutterless sill and jambs and guide means for the sliding doors so that the frame, doors and the guide means may be cleaned with very little wiping eifort.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shower bath closure assemblage including a frame and sliding doors, the frame being constructed without elongated sill gutters and which includes jamb lportions for receiving the doors in surface contact only; the sill being sloped to direct the water from the doors during showering into the tub without the possibility of bodies of water collecting on the sill in gutters.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shower bath closure assemblage of the sliding door type including guide means for supporting the sliding doors; said guide means including elements which are very small in size and may readily be cleaned with practically no effort except wiping.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a sliding door type of shower bath assemblage including a frame and sliding doors so constructed so as to provide natural drainage from the doors and frame without accumulation of standing water after showering, and in this respect the sill assemblage of the frame having free total drainage of water into the tub.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detail description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts through the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the improved sliding door type bathtub assemblage.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken through the assemblage substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken through the assemblage substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. l.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a door guide which is very small in size and preferably constructed of synthetic resin such as nylon or dacron, to permit substantially frictionless and facile door guiding.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section taken at the jambs and looking downward upon the sill structure of the assembly frame and more particularly showing the jamb and guides.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken transversely through the improved sill of the frame assemblage.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken transversely through an improved jamb or upright of the frame structure.

3,31%,914 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 ICC FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, of the jamb and sill structure at Ithe open inside face of the frame and showing gravity water drainage characteristics of the sill and jamb.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through a modified form of sill differing slightly in the supporting means of the sill shown in FIG. 6, but being sloped and provided with a gutterless main body.

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view taken through the modified form of jamb differing slightly over the jamb shown in FIG. 7.

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary sectional view showing how the corner portions of the door rails and uprights lare connected.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown the essential features of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the assemblage which may comprise a frame structure B, doors C and door guides D.

The frame structure B comprises a sill 15; upright jambs 17 and a top horizontal header or rail structure 18.

The parts of the frame D and doors C are preferably constructed of extruded aluminum which in the finished article may be polished and anodized and otherwise decorated.

It is to be understood that the closure assemblage may be provided either as an adjunct to a shower type tub or solely to a shower setup and in this respect the sill is either applied to the top Wall of the front of the tub or to the base structure of the shower.

Further referring to the frame structure B, the sill 15 may be of the types shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 of the invention. The form shown in FIG. 6 preferably comprises a gutterless generally at main body 20 which may have an outer supporting leg 21; an inner supporting leg structure 22 of a type which may provide a recess 23 for caulking, and it may also include an intermediate supporting leg 23. 'Ihe supports 21, 22 and 23 may run the full length of the sill and are of such relative height as lto support the sill 20 in a sloping position. That is, the top surface 25 slopes downwardly to the inner edge 26 of the sill for free gravity drainage of water. At the outer margin of the sill main body 20 there is provided an upstanding water shield flange 27 which prevents splashing of water outside of the sill. This sill may be secured by any appropriate screws (not shown) to the tub structure 30 or the floor structure in case the assemblage is entirely used for a shower bath without tub. The bolts or screws for securing the guides D in place may also be used for securing the sill in place upon the tub wall 30 or base flooring.

In the form of sill shown in FIG. v9 the flat drain plate 20a may be provided with supporting leg structures 22a at the down side thereof; a leg structure 21a being at the opposite end of the main body 20a and an intermediate supporting leg 23a may be provided which may have a recess 23b for caulking. The Water shield flange 27a is located in alignment and in the same plane with the leg 21a and the outer surfacing of leg 21a and water shield ange 27a may be corrugated in undulating manner as shown at 31 for decoration purposes; the corrugation grooves -being very minute in depth and not capable of retaining water or dirt deposits.

Jambs 17, several examples of which are shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, include for the jarrrb of FIG. 7, a main body plate 33 having an outer leg 35 at the inner side thereof and at the outer side thereof having a mounting leg 36 provided with a caulking receiving recess 37 therein. An intermediate leg 38 may `be provided between the legs 35 and 36. The

legs

35, 36 and 38 are of the u same length in order that the plate 33y lies parallel to the wall to which attached. At its outer marginal edge jamb 17 is provided with a water shield flange 40 of desired width, preferably lying in the same plane with the leg 35. `Otherwise the exposed surfacing 41 of the body plate 33 is unobstructed and free of any flanges, gutters, etc.

The jambs 17 at their lower ends rest upon the sill plate 20, being cut to conform thereto; the width of the jambs being such that the water shield flange will lie at the inside of the sill shield flange 27, to which it may be attached, as shown at 44, yby means of screws, bolts, or in any other manner. The jambs 17 are secured through the plate 33 by screws, bolts or other securing means to the building structure so as to provide an entirely exposed outer jamb surface of the plate 33 from the ange 40 to the opposite leg 36 thereof.

In the form of jamb 17a shown in FIG. l0,

legs

35a, 38a and 36EL lmay be provided of the same design or closely thereto as the

legs

35, 38 and 36 of the form of invention shown in FIG. 7. For purposes of decoration the water shield flange 49a and the leg 35a may be provided with shallow undulating corr-ugations 31a and also the jamb plate 332L may have similar undulating corrugations 33h; these being provided merely for purposes of decoration and not forming gutters of a type in which water or dirt will collect.

The frame header 1S is U-shaped in cross section as shown in FIG. 2, including a top wall 50- and outer and inner side walls 51 and 52 at right angled relation therewith defining a channel 53 adapted to receive the upper ends of the jambs 17 therein. The walls 51 and 52 are provided with roller tracks 55 of conventional nat-ure, upon which the door rollers are adapted to travel. The header 18 may be attached to the jambs 17 but are prefera- `bly attached to the ceiling or other structure in order that the header may conform to the proper height of the structure in which the assembly is mounted.

Referring to the doors C, each of the same includes a bottom rail of U-shaped cross sectional formation,

upright rails

61 and 62 of U-shaped cross section, and a top rail 63 of U-shaped cross section. The channels of these rails are adapted to receive suitable caulking or `sealing material 64 for receiving therein the margins of the door plates 65 which are preferably of glass, plastic or other material. The joining ends or edges 66 of the door rails are diagonally disposed and may be secured together by angle clamps 70 which are placed in the channels to reinforce and hold the rails together. The angles 70 are attached in place by bolts or rivets 71.

Each of the closures C have exposed outer and inner surfacing and end upright surfacing which maybe decorated in any approved manner as by scarifying or undulant corrugations without providing gutters or grooves in which water or dirt will collect.

The top rail 63 of each closure C may be provided with upward extensions secured therewith having rollers 76 rotatably mounted thereon adapted to ride in the tracks 65 for the purpose of sliding the doors backward and forward. Any number of doors may be provided within the framework B but in the drawings only two of such doors are shown.

The guiding means D is small as compared to the length of the sills, and preferably may be formed of synthetic resin such as nylon or Daeron or other material. It has narrow sockets in which the bottom rails 60 of the closures C slide back and forth. The sockets in length may vary, being in the nature of less than one inch compared to the long sill length.

Each guide member D preferably includes a base plate 80 having mounted thereon socket providing projections or

walls

81 and 82 at the ends thereof and an intermediate wall 83. Thus, the

extensions

81, 82 and 83 provide two sockets 84 and `85. The base 80 generally slopes parallel to the sloping angle of the sill 15. The intermediate portions 942iy of the sockets compensate for this slope by having their upper surfaces lying horizontally. Bolt openings 91 are provided in the bottom wall 80 of each guide adapted to receive bolts or screws 92 which may either only secure the guides in place or are adapted to receive screws by which the sill 15 may be attached to the foundation structure 39. The top surfaces of the bottom wall 80 slope downwardly from the surfaces 90 to the sill edges to prevent trapping of fluids in the guides and to facilitate wiping of the same for cleaning and drying purposes. The inside facing surfaces of the socket providing walls 81, S2 and 82 are divergently sloped outwardly as an entrance guide for the doors C.

It will :be noted from FIG. 3 that each door C has a plurality of projections or

walls

81, 82 and 83 for each of the guide means D. They denne trackways for the two doors. They also contact only the outer surfaces of the doors and each door at each side always has two of the projections in guiding association therewith (see FIG. 3).

It will be noted from the foregoing that the inside surfacing of the jambs and sill of the frame B provide easily accessible and unobstructed surfacing as do also the water shield flanges of the jamb and side rails. The doors C have no grooves or projections whatsoever for the entrapment of dirt and water. The header 18 protects the upper portions of the closures C and houses the pulleys and trackways therein against access of water thereto.

From the foregoing it can be seen that an improved gliding door assemblage and enclosure for tubs and showers has been provided, the parts of which are arranged for natural gravity drainage of water back into the tub or shower without entrapment; all parts 'being readily and easily accessible, and all parts of the frame, doors and guides being readily detachable.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a sanitary closure assemblage for bathtubs and showers, a Combination of a frame including a sill having an uninterrupted upper surface which slopes downwardly and inwardly, the outer margin of said sill having an upstanding water shield flange, jambs secured at the ends of the sill, a header secured at the upper ends of said jambs, doors suspended by said header, guide members mounted on the sill top surface at relatively spaced distances therealong, each guide member having a bottom wall and upwardly projecting outer and intermediate ex= tensions to define slide passageways for receiving the lower margins of said doors, the bottom wall top surface of each guide member in each passageway being horizontally transversely positioned and which horizontal top surfaces all lie in the same plane, said guide member' extensions at the facing surfaces thereof being bevelled so that the outer ends of said passageways are wider than the intermediate portions thereof, the top surfaces of said bottom walls of the guide members also sloping laterally in downward bevelled relation at each side of their horizontal surface, the bevels of the upward extensions dening passageways facilitating door entrance and exit and said bevels including the bevels of the bottom wall and the sloping surface of the sill permitting ready water drainage and easy access for cleaning purposes.

2. In a sliding door construction for bathtubs and showers, the combination of a `frame including an elongated sill provided with an uninterrupted top wall surface which transversely slopes inwardly and downwardly, the outer longitudinal margin of the wall being provided with an upwardly extending water shield flange and the top surface of the sill per se being otherwise free of upstanding anges; vertical jambs secured at the ends of the sill, a header secured at the upper ends of the jambs; a pair of slide doors suspended from the header which are each shorter in width than the sill length so that the same may be relatively slid side by side on the sill to selectively open and close said doors, and guide members mounted on the sloping surface of the sill intermediate said jambs at selected spaced distances with respect to each other, each guide member comprising a base wall and upstanding outer and inner and intermediate walls, said upstanding guide member walls being spaced with respect to each other so as to provide aligned side by side passageways defining door trackways receiving the lower margins of said doors, said guide members each being relatively narrow lengthwise of the sill, the facing surfaces of said upstanding guide walls being transversely bevelled so that the passageways thereof at each end of the guide member are wider than the intermediate portions of the passageways, the bottom wall of each of said guide members at each Ipassageway having the upper surface bevelled in downwardly sloping relation from the intermediate portion of each passageway to the ends of the passageways, the sloping wall of the sill and ybevels permitting ready drainage of water.

3. In a sliding door construction for bathtubs and showers, the combination of a frame, including an elongated sill having an uninterrupted top surface which transversely slopes inwardly and downwardly, the outer longitudinal margin of the sill being provided with an upwardly extending water shield flange; jambs secured at the ends of the sill, a header secured at the upper ends of said jambs, a pair of slide doors suspended by the header which in width are each shorter than the sill length so that the same may be slid side by side over the sill to selectively open or close said doors, and guide members mounted on the sloping surface of the sill at selected spaced distances with respect to each other, each guide member comprising a base wall and upstanding outer and inner and intermediate walls, said upstanding walls being spaced with respect to each other to provide side by side passageways dening slide trackways for receiving the lower margins of said doors, said guide members each being relatively narrow lengthwise of the sill, the facing surfaces of said upstanding guide walls being transversely bevelled so that the passageways thereof at each end of the guide member lare wider than the intermediate portions of the passageways, the base wall of each of said guide member in each passageway having the top surface transversely horizontally disposed and which transverse surfaces lie in acute angular relation to the sloping top surface of Said sill.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A SANITARY CLOSURE ASSEMBLAGE FOR BATHTUBS AND SHOWERS, A COMBINATION OF A FRAME INCLUDING A SILL HAVING AN UNINTERRUPTED UPPER SURFACE WHICH SLOPES DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY, THE OUTER MARGIN OF SAID SILL HAVING AN UPSTANDING WATER SHIELD FLANGE, JAMBS SECURED AT THE ENDS OF THE SILL, A HEADER SECURED AT THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID JAMBS, DOORS SUSPENDED BY SAID HEADER, GUIDE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON THE SILL TOP SURFACE AT RELATIVELY SPACED DISTANCES THEREALONG, EACH GUIDE MEMBER HAVING A BOTTOM WALL AND UPWARDLY PROJECTING OUTER AND INTERMEDIATE EXTENSIONS TO DEFINE SLIDE PASSAGEWAYS FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER MARGINS OF SAID DOORS, THE BOTTOM WALL TOP SURFACE OF EACH GUIDE MEMBER IN EACH PASSAGEWAY BEING HORIZONTALLY TRANSVERSELY POSITIONED AND WHICH HORIZONTAL TOP SURFACES ALL LIE IN THE SAME PLANE, SAID GUIDE MEMBER EXTENSIONS AT THE FACING SURFACES THEREOF BEING BEVELLED SO THAT THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS ARE WIDER THAN THE INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS THEREOF, THE TOP SURFACES OF SAID BOTTOM WALLS OF THE GUIDE MEMBERS ALSO SLOPING LATERALLY IN DOWNWARD BEVELLED RELATION AT EACH SIDE OF THEIR HORIZONTAL SURFACE, THE BEVELS OF THE UPWARD EXTENSIONS DEFINING PASSAGEWAYS FACILITATING DOOR ENTRANCE AND EXIT AND SAID BEVELS INCLUDING THE BEVELS OF THE BOTTOM WALL AND THE SLOPING SURFACE OF THE SILL PERMITTING READY WATER DRAINAGE AND EASY ACCESS FOR CLEANING PURPOSES.